I will admittedly go cheap on some dies...and a basic set for 270 rifle is an example. I have a few sets of Lees for handgun that I dont use a ton, but no rifle sets. On one set I have the decapping pin pops out of the collet and have had to tighten several times as tight as I can, but it will keep coming loose. No biggie, just tighten but kind of annoying.

Anyways, order a set up for the 270...i get 5 pieces of virgin Hornady brass in FL sizer (just to clean up from shipping) and baam...the entire decapping mandrel sticks in the case and pulls down through the die. Have never had this happen. Its stuck in the case darn hard, try to put it back up through the top to get collet back around it but not working, and cant get it out of the case so just cut the brass but by the time im done decapper is bent. I had used Hornady case lube and have never had a problem with any other brand of dies (redding, forster, RCBS). So my experience has taught me that once it breaks loose, its tough to keep together plus its slightly bent.

I email Lee last night to let them know my issue and concern of it coming loose again, plus request for replacement die. To their credit I get a reply today, however it says "One shot will cause stuck cases. Use Lee Case resizing Lube." and then give me a link for stuck case removal from the die.

So its clear they didnt really read what I sent them, and they are not interested in helping out at all past that. I replied stating that was not my issue, and someone else said just run it back up in the die and tighten the collett so at least this person read it. Unfortunately that wont work the way it dropped and its bent.

Anyways, with all the great stories that are out there about sending parts and pieces no questions asked, Lee apparently doesnt like that idea. Just FYI to only use their lube with their dies. Will be throwing this die set in the trash and wont be buying Lee for rifle. Got what i paid for. For a few dollars more I will be going with the much more solidly built alternatives.

Just for the record, I got a 7.62x51 NATO case stuck in a RCBS sizing die using One Shot lube.

Don't write Lee off entirely. They make some items that are very useful, that either no one else makes, or that is just as good if not better than others, for the dollar. Their universal decapping die and collet crimping dies come to mind.

Life's concerns should be about the 120lb pack your trying to get to the top of the mountain, and not the rock in your boot.

I actually just bought their deluxe perfect powder measure and stand alon with the quick change drums. The brass measuring drum and cylinder works great, however the plastic drums for quick changes leak like crazy with small powder. I might buy some things from them but dies will no longer be one. Disappointed by the yep that will happen attitude and I'll buy throwaway items.

Some years ago I acquired a Marlin 30/30. Needing dies I ordered a set of Lee's. The determining factor being that they came w/ a shell holder.

They produce perfectly usable cartridges, however I do not like the way the decapping/re-sizing spindle is held by the collet/clamp arrangement. On occasion it has worked loose. Whereon one must tighten the frick down the clamp , then continue. I've never actually stuck a case. Of course the 30/30 has a less abrupt and thinner neck than the 270. I usually use old Hornady 'Unique' lube. One time I did stick a 308 Win. case in a RCBS standard sizer. That required drilling out the flashhole, screwing in a threaded shaft etc. Since that time I do not spare the lube.

I thought to have the spindle and the top of the Lee sizer die threaded. However, around the time I thought of it my handy Andy pal w/ the taps and dies sickened and died.

I have stuck 223 cases in mine. I got some kind of spray lube and I just put all the cases in a container, spray it, and shake them around some. Seems to work pretty well. If I get down in the container and one acts like it is gonna stick, then I just spray more lube in there, and shake it some more.

I am not the biggest fan of how they hold the decapping thing in there, but..... they are cheap dies.

I have an use dies from pretty much all the makers. I keep coming back to Lee because overall I tend to like them the best, especially their collet dies. The thin liquid lubes like Dillons and Oneshot do not work anywhere as well on larger cases. I've found it's pretty hard to beat using Froglube on cases. I can only remember ever sticking one case and that was a milsurp 30/06 with Dillon lube. First time and last time I used it on them.

Lee collet neck sizing dies eliminate the need for any lube at all, and I like that. Plus, runout numbers since using the collet die have drastically declined, accuracy improved. Can't speak for the regular Lee dies.

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